Cougars LHP Cody Reed pitched a nine-inning shutout Thursday, the first for a Kane County hurler since 2004. (Photo by Donnell Collins)

Kane County Cougars LHP Cody Reed continued his dominance of the Midwest League on Thursday, allowing only three hits and one walk in his nine-inning shutout of the Quad Cities River Bandits. He struck out nine batters.

In seven starts this season, Reed is 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA, 47 strikeouts and nine walks in 41.2 innings. The Arizona Diamondbacks prospect turns 21 on June 7.

This is Reed’s second stint with the Cougars. He started last season with Kane County, earning a promotion to High-A after going 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA, 55 strikeouts and three walks in 39.2 innings/seven starts for the Cougars. He struggled in the California League, going 0-5 with a 6.06 ERA, 29 strikeouts and 17 walks in 35.2 innings/eight games/seven starts for the Visalia Rawhide. He presumably will get another shot at High-A this season — probably sooner than later — as the Midwest League hasn’t been much of a challenge for him.

Davis takes MWL HR lead

Kernels rightfielder Jaylin Davis homered twice Thursday in Cedar Rapids’ 6-3 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. That gives the Minnesota Twins prospect nine home runs this season.

Davis now leads the Midwest League in roundtrippers, with a one-homer lead over Great Lakes Loons outfielder Carlos Rincon and Lake County Captains first baseman Emmanuel Tapia. He had a three-homer game against the Peoria Chiefs on Tuesday, which, combined with his two-homer game Thursday, likely gives Davis the lead in voting if the next Midwest League offensive player of the week was chosen today.

Chiefs beat Snappers in 15

The Chiefs beat the Beloit Snappers 4-1 in 15 innings Thursday, winning on a three-run, walk-off homer by designated hitter Andrew Knizner.

Snappers first baseman Luke Persico went 4-for-7 with a triple. Chiefs shortstop Tommy Edman went 3-for-6 with a walk and a stolen base.

Loons score 17 — so far

The game at Fort Wayne’s Parkview Field on Thursday was suspended after eight innings because of the Midwest League curfew rule not allowing a new inning to begin after 12:50 a.m. local time. The Loons will take a 17-8 lead over the TinCaps into the 9th inning when the game is resumed Friday.

Loons designated hitter Keibert Ruiz has four hits and two RBI. Four Loons players — second baseman Gavin Lux, rightfielder Carlos Rincon, centerfielder Cody Thomas and first baseman Luis Paz — each have three hits and at least two RBI in the game. Thomas hit a solo homer, as did TinCaps shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and TinCaps rightfielder Jorge Ona.

Lugnuts earn 1,500th win

The Lansing Lugnuts notched their 1,500th franchise win with a 5-1 victory over the South Bend Cubs.

The game featured a great pitching performance by Lugnuts starter Patrick Murphy, who took a perfect game into the 6th inning. He ended up allowing one run on three hits and no walks, and striking out five batters in seven innings. He got the win, improving to 3-1 this season.

His counterpart, Dylan Cease, had to leave the game in the 2nd inning, after injuring his ankle while covering third base. The injury isn’t considered serious, but the Cubs still placed him on the 7-day disabled list Friday.

The game, played at South Bend’s Four Winds Field, included a rehab start by Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward. He played right field and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward swings at a pitch during his rehab start in South Bend on Thursday. (Photo by Rikk Carlson)